Drysdale gets Olympic lifeline
Waddell beat his arch rival Drysdale by three lengths in the single sculls race at the national championships at Lake Karapiro yesterday and is a red hot favourite to beat his rival in this weeks best-of-three Olympics race-off.
But last night Rowing NZ high performance manager Andrew Matheson threw a lifeline to three-time world champ Drysdale telling Sunday News that they want both athletes at the Beijing Games in August.
The loser of next weekends trial will move to another boat.
Wed certainly hope that it would be the case - that they both go, Matheson told Sunday News.
Its obviously going to be very tough for either of them if they dont get that (single sculls) spot because theyve worked hard on it.
Its an important job we do that whoever is the unfortunate athlete we can still work with them to get them into another boat. That would certainly be our preference.
Matheson rubbished recent newspaper reports that suggested there isnt enough time between next weekends trials and the Olympics to move either Waddell or Drysdale into an already established boat.
I dont believe thats the case, he said. Obviously weve got some seasoned campaigners in the other boats as well, so they wont have an easy run into another boat. But when youve got experience and skill at the level theyve got then theyre pretty adaptable.
So I dont think its a problem.
While that means someone else will miss a trip to the games, it would be foolhardy for Rowing NZ to turn away one of the best rowers in the world, especially as money from Sparc depends on medal success at the Olympics.
Sunday News understands the loser of the race-off will be placed on either the double scull or pairs boat for Beijing.
And while there would be a ripple effect in the sense that someone will have to drop out of those boats to allow Waddell or Drysdale to step up, it has been long understood within the New Zealand set-up, only the very best rowers will be selected for China.
In recent weeks Waddell, the 2000 single sculls Olympic champion, and Drysdale have raced each other four times with Waddell leading the series 3-1.
Matheson said that would all count for nothing when the trials began at Lake Karapiro next weekend.
It was an interesting race from both of them (yesterday) and theyll learn quite a bit from this as well.
From a selection perspective there was nothing riding on it. The only thing riding on it was their pride, so both will take a lot from this race.
It was tricky conditions out there and it was tough. In different conditions this race might have been a bit different.
But this was just about pride and whos going to be the national champion.
Matheson acknowledged the huge boost the battle between Drysdale and Waddell had done for the profile of rowing.
But he defended the decision to hold the Olympic trials behind closed doors, despite the national interest.
Normally with our trials most people dont have any interest in them. So its a whole new phenomenon for us. The level of interest is extremely high, he said.
All were trying to do is make sure the athletes get a fair go.
Theres nothing sinister about what were doing. Were just trying to give them the best opportunity. Its extremely tough for both of them. The pressure on them is immense and the stakes are really high.
Posted
on
Saturday, March 1st, 2008 at 8:29 pm under